The tragic Larry Brown Era moved a step closer to a messy conclusion with the Knicks coach laid up in his Greenwich, Conn., mansion recovering from surgery as Isiah Thomas held meetings with his college scouting staff at his summer place in Hilton Head, S.C. Thomas brainstormed with his men for the NBA Draft – clearly in charge, clearly the face of the franchise again.

There was no direct communication between Thomas and Brown yesterday as the Knicks seek to buy out Brown’s contract.

Brown underwent bladder surgery on Friday and was still recuperating.

But it’s doubtful Brown would have discussed draft matters in Thomas’ home.

Indications were Brown and owner James Dolan will go face to face for one last meeting, but it’s doubtful there’s anything Brown can say that will change Dolan’s thinking. The power struggle has been won by Thomas, who is being urged to replace Brown on the bench.

Meanwhile, Stephon Marbury, the center of the storm, sounded chipper about the prospect of Brown’s removal. “Based on our record, that’s normal for anybody to have that speculation,” Marbury told the Associated Press. “I wouldn’t mind. It doesn’t matter who coaches. I don’t care if Larry doesn’t come back. I wouldn’t mind at all.” Dolan tired of Brown’s act quickly after the 23-59 disgrace, with the Marbury feud boiling his blood. Dolan and Garden president Steve Mills got a good taste of Brown’s fussiness during their Wednesday weekly meetings with the coach and Thomas.

Dolan had asked Brown to end the Marbury feud, only to have Brown go at it again in the media the next day.

Knicks brass feels it is more prudent to keep Marbury and Thomas’ young core intact than to blow up the roster to get the veteran players Brown wants.

The Knicks believe it would be more expensive to keep Brown and satisfy his trade requests – such as his push for $70 million Kenyon Martin – than buying him out. Brown also feels the club needs a shotblocking center, even though it has $30 million invested in Jerome James.

The Knicks are hoping they can buy out Brown for $25 million of the $40 million owed to him. It could be an ugly negotiation.

Even at the 11th hour last July, agent Joe Glass squeezed out a fifth year after the Knicks originally held firm on four years, a source said. Brown could wind up in Sacramento or Golden State, and there even was a report about Charlotte.

Garden spokesman Barry Watkins said the Knicks still would not comment on Brown’s future.

To add more wackiness to the proceedings, Glass claimed he heard from Thomas at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday for the first time since Peter Vecsey’s front-page story Sunday about Thomas potentially replacing Brown as head coach.

“Isiah told me there’s no validity to it at all,” Glass said. “He said he hasn’t responded to it because they don’t respond to those things. Larry’s ready to fullfill his coaching responsibilities.” If true, Thomas is likely waiting for Dolan to be the hit man, or they are waiting a few days for Brown to recover further from his surgery before commencing their plan. The Knicks begin their predraft workouts Monday and the head coach normally runs the drills.

On a Friday last July, Glass said he was confident Brown and the Pistons were working toward him coming back. That Monday, the Pistons announced they were parting ways.

Ten months ago, when he hired Brown in July, Thomas compared Brown to “Einstein” and called him “a turnaround king.” Now Thomas will likely be in control of his own expensive roster – athletic and talented, but lacking role players and defenders.

Pacers president Donnie Walsh said Thomas, who coached three years for him in Indiana, might bring a high-tempo offense the club lacked under Brown. Marbury and others complained privately about the team’s slowdown approach.

“He’s very creative, he come up with a running offense,” Walsh said. “He’s no Larry Brown, though. But he’s farther along than you’d think, coaching just three years.”

Famous last words

The Garden was a much different place last July, when Larry Brown was introduced as coach of the Knicks:

“It’s a dirty work job, he’s the perfect dirty-work guy. He’s very experienced in turnarounds.

He’s the turnaround king. He goes into places, addresses the situation and finds a way to get people to play . . . It’s not about power-tripping or ego-tripping. It’s about the New York Knicks . . . He’s my friend. My mentor. Welcome home.” – Isiah Thomas, July 28, 2005

“I know this will be my last stop.

Basketball started for me in this city. I want to be here when it’s finally time for me to stop.”

– Larry Brown, July 28, 2005

“It’s clear Larry Brown has reenergized our fan base.”

– Garden president Steve Mills, July 28, 2005

“Guys we have will be inspired and motivated to play for him. It’s like when you’re a science student and you get to sit in on an Einstein lecture. You get up for that.”